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From YouTube: State of the City Address 2021
Description
Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul presents the 2021 Cupertino State of the City Address.
Originally presented on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
A
Hello,
everyone
I'm
mayor,
darcy
paul,
and
I
want
to
welcome
you
to
the
2021
state
of
the
city
address
for
the
city
of
cupertino.
I'd
like
to
start
this
address
by
thanking
some
former
immediately
former
rather
council
members,
stephen
scharf
and
brad
sinks
for
their
service
to
our
community
this
year.
We
welcome
our
new
council
members,
kitty
moore
and
hung
wei
in
the
second
half
of
their
current
term
are
vice
mayor,
liang,
chao
and
council
member
john
willey.
A
I
would
also
like
to
acknowledge
the
tireless
and
consistent
efforts
of
our
city
manager,
deb
fung,
who
marked
her
first
full
year
with
cupertino,
while
handling
our
our
city's
response
to
the
pandemic
mid-stride
back
in
the
summer.
I'm
also
grateful
that
all
of
you
watching
have
taken
the
time
to
be
here
with
us.
Virtually
this
will
not
be
a
traditional
address,
as
this
is
not
an
ordinary
time.
A
A
A
A
A
Now,
I'm
not
sure
about
you,
but
for
me
a
panicked
relative
reaching
out
in
the
middle
of
the
night
on
a
weekend
is
singularly
unusual,
but
I
knew
immediately
what
the
stakes
were,
as
she
described
firsthand
the
onset
of
this
atmosphere
confronting
the
healthcare
industry.
I
listened,
and
I
outreach
to
the
best
contacts
that
I
have
in
the
political
sphere
and
in
the
private
sector
and
I'm
proud
to
say
that
this
community
responded.
A
The
state
of
california
responded.
Our
local
businesses
responded
large
and
small.
We
pulled
together
to
ensure
the
provision
of
ppe
and
particularly
suitable
masks
for
our
medical
personnel
first
responders
and
those
most
in
need
of
this
protective
equipment
and
I'm
so
very
proud
of
our
volunteer
and
not-for-profit
community
for
responding
as
well.
I
worked
with
our
city
manager
and
our
director
of
public
works
to
ensure
that
at
city
hall,
cupertino
had
available
places
for
members
of
the
public
to
donate
ppe
and
masks.
A
You
as
a
community
stepped
up
and
we
were
able
to
give
our
local
hospitals
the
equivalent
of
a
few
truckloads
of
ppe.
I
am
grateful
for
that.
Thank
you.
All
cupertino
responded
with
foresight
and
care
in
other
ways
to
the
pandemic
as
well.
On
the
technical
front,
when
the
first
stay-at-home
orders
went
into
effect,
our
city
services
seamlessly
transitioned
to
a
virtual
environment,
no
hiccups
and
no
turning
off
the
lights.
A
How
is
this
possible?
Well,
our
I.t
department
had
been
preparing
for
years
for
an
earthquake
that
would
knock
out
power,
close
roads
and
make
it
necessary
for
staff
to
work
remotely.
I
don't
believe
they
could
have
foreseen
this
pandemic,
but
it
turns
out
their
efforts
worked
for
this
natural
disaster
as
well.
A
This
couldn't
have
happened
without
the
vision
and
persistence
of
our
chief
technology
officer
bill
mitchell
bill.
Thank
you
for
your
service
to
the
city
and
our
community.
We
are
lucky
to
have
you
on
the
team
for
those
who
may
not
have
seen
it
bill
and
his
efforts
were
actually
highlighted
by
forbes
magazine.
A
For
ongoing
updates
regarding
the
pandemic,
our
response
to
it
and
how
cupertino's
efforts
are
coordinating
with
broader
efforts.
I
encourage
you
all
to
visit
cupertino.org
forward,
slash
coronavirus
and
sign
up
for
notifications
since
the
beginning
of
this
pandemic.
The
city
has
updated
this
page
with
the
latest
information
and
sent
out
regular
reports
to
keep
residents
apprised
of.
What's
going
on.
A
Each
member
in
the
motel
has
access
to
case
management
and
supportive
housing
services
for
help
with
permanent
housing
options,
employment
assistance,
substance,
dependencies
and
more
truly.
This
is
a
multi-faceted
problem
and
we
have
started
to
take
the
correct
approach,
a
very
thoughtful
and
multi-tiered
approach.
A
Additionally,
the
city
established
a
temporary
alternate
outdoor
site
for
the
encampment
members
to
relocate
during
the
coven
19
shelter
in
place,
orders
portable
restrooms
hand,
washing
stations
and
debris
bins.
Have
been
provided
on-site
in
line
with
cdc
and
local
public
health
guidelines,
this
couldn't
have
been
possible
without
the
assistance
of
our
dedicated
public
works
team.
I
want
to
thank
director
roger
lee
for
his
and
his
team's
exemplary
efforts
throughout
the
entirety
of
this
pandemic.
A
We
are
grateful
for
the
opportunity
to
help
others
and,
as
we
meet
these
challenges,
we
are
more
grateful
for
the
future
opportunities.
We
have
to
make
things
better
for
everyone
ourselves
included.
When
we
put
forward
our
resources
honestly
and
with
compassion.
I
am
proud
to
represent
a
city
that
cares
for
its
most
vulnerable
residents.
A
As
we're
also
all
too
aware,
in
these
times,
local
businesses
are
as
well
vulnerable
to
the
effects
of
the
pandemic.
We
are
moving
forward
with
grateful
mindset
geared
towards
solutions
and
expanding
opportunities.
There,
as
well
cupertino,
successfully
launched
a
small
business
emergency
relief
grant
program
utilizing
our
cares,
act,
funding
allocation
of
two
hundred
and
twenty
nine
thousand
dollars.
A
This
provided
grants
to
eligible
businesses
with
25
or
fewer
employees
that
include
low
moderate
income
individuals.
Best
of
all
these
grants
do
not
need
to
be
repaid.
Cupertino
provided
five
thousand
grants.
I'm
sorry:
five
thousand
dollar
grants
to
37
local
small
businesses
to
assist
the
recovery
of
cupertino's
business
community.
Hopefully
we
can
up
that
number,
perhaps
not
to
5
000
grants,
but
you
know,
hopefully
it
can
increase
to
the
point
where
our
businesses
can
truly
see
a
successful
economic
recovery.
A
A
A
A
A
I
would
like
to
thank
the
parks
and
recreation
department
for
their
outreach
efforts,
keeping
the
cupertino
community
engaged
during
the
pandemic.
This
includes
parks
and
recreation
director,
joanne
mcgreeney,
welcome
to
the
community.
Many
of
you
have
not
met
her
yet
as
she
was
hired
months
into
the
pandemic
through
her
and
her
department's
hard
work
and
dedication,
we
have
been
able
to
continue
to
offer
programs
camps
and
events
in
virtual
and
socially
distanced
platforms.
We
as
a
city
have
had
to
adjust,
as
everyone
has
to
ever,
changing
conditions.
A
Recreation
classes
and
camps
were
converted
to
be
available
online
to
allow
residents
a
mental
and
physical
outlet.
Social
activities
for
our
seniors
were
adapted
to
provide
them
with
a
safe
way
to
interact
and
all
resources
were
utilized
to
being
to
bring
opportunities
to
our
residents
to
maintain
a
sense
of
community.
A
Shortly
after
the
community
was
asked
to
shelter
in
place,
the
department
adapted
quickly
working
with
staff
and
vendors,
to
create
a
virtual
recreation
page
hosted
on
the
city's
website
to
offer
classes
and
programs
where
the
community
could
participate
in
programs
and
offerings
they
are
used
to
enjoying
the
virtual
recreation
page.
Had
a
wide
response
and
was
welcomed
by
community
members
looking
for
a
way
to
stay
active
while
at
home.
A
During
the
summer
season,
efforts
were
contributed
to
allow
for
summer
camps
to
continue
both
in
person
and
virtually
staff
participants
and
their
families
were
happy
to
have
an
opportunity
to
learn,
grow
and
be
active
with
the
community
unable
to
visit
city
facilities,
staff
look
for
opportunities
to
engage
and
support
residents
in
need.
The
senior
center
initiated
a
meal
delivery
program
to
provide
eligible
seniors
with
meals
from
local
restaurants.
A
Their
programs
have
been
recognized
multiple
times
by
the
park
by
the
california
parks
and
recreation,
rather,
the
california
parks
and
recreation
society
receiving
their
first
five
snaps
award
and
recreation
coordinator,
amanda
huy
was
recognized
by
the
cupertino
chamber
receiving
their
star
award
for
her
collaboration
with
harker
school
distributing
cards
to
seniors.
A
A
These
activities
have
allowed
our
community
to
write,
draw
dance,
sing
and
laugh
together,
while
at
home
the
cupertino
cares
initiative
also
included
a
few
giveaways,
such
as
the
incredibly
popular
halloween
buckets
the
city
with
many
thanks
to
former
mayor
scharf
was
able
to
give
away
1
500
buckets
to
our
community
with
no
in-person
events
possible,
I'm
so
happy
and
grateful
that
the
city
used
some
of
those
funds
to
bring
some
joy
to
our
residents
with
regard
to
our
city
finances.
Let
me
start
with
the
opportunity
of
a
lesson
learned.
A
A
Additional
staffing
was
allocated
to
the
finance
division,
and
this
and
the
city
established
an
internal
audit
function
for
the
first
time.
The
discovery
of
the
embezzlement
occurred
in
my
prior
term
as
mayor
in
2018.
In
fact,
I
made
sure
to
sit
down
with
our
finance
staff
on
a
regular
basis.
After
that
to
go
over
all
questions,
I
had
about
every
single
city
expenditure
that
the
name
that
the
mayor
normally
signs
off
on
as
part
of
an
automatic
process
during
our
consent,
calendars
in
our
council
meetings.
A
A
More
information
can
be
found
on
cupertino.org
forward,
slash
fraud,
administrative
services,
director,
christina
alfaro,
and
her
team
have
helped
bring
our
city's
finances
to
the
point
where
our
internal
mechanisms
meet
the
quality
of
the
care
that
we
and
our
predecessors
have
used
in
stewarding.
The
city's
finances
to
me
part
of
gratitude
and
opportunity
is
that
you
lead
with
talking
about
what
needs
to
be
improved,
and
we
have
very
much
answered
that
call
here.
A
The
truth
of
the
matter
is
that
cupertino's
finances
have
a
long-standing
history
of
being
very
responsibly
and
thoughtfully
maintained
as
far
as
expenditures
and
allocations
go
on
the
front
of
future
oversight.
Financially,
the
city
hired
the
accounting
firm,
moss
adams,
as
an
internal
auditor
in
2020,
moss
adams
has
since
completed
its
comprehensive
risk
assessment
and
has
identified
areas
of
higher
risk
challenges
facing
the
city
and
region
as
well
as
areas
for
operational
efficiency
enhancements.
A
The
audit
committee
will
be
making
a
recommendation
to
city
council
on
an
internal
audit
work
program
before
the
end
of
the
fiscal
year
for
those
interested
in
understanding
our
budget
on
a
deeper
level.
The
city
utilizes
opengov's
transparency
portal.
Where
viewers
can
view
and
sift
through
all
of
the
city's
financial
data
in
real
time
for
10
years
of
finances,
residents
can
also
take
advantage
of
an
interactive
tax
calculator
that
was
rolled
out
this
past
year.
A
A
On
august
18
2020,
the
city
council
approved
the
redevelopment
of
the
oaks
shopping
center.
This
project
named
westport
cupertino,
is
an
important
step
toward
meeting
the
city's
housing
goals
by
providing
267
housing
units.
This
mixed-use
development
at
an
important
gateway
to
the
city,
addresses
the
following:
housing
needs
in
the
community.
A
Its
88
town,
home
and
row
house
units
will
provide
much
needed
ownership,
housing
which
fulfills
the
city's
vision
to
provide
home
ownership
opportunities
at
a
full
range
of
densities.
As
many
senior
residents
face,
a
unique
set
of
housing
needs,
including
physical
limitations,
fixed
incomes
and
health
care
costs.
Having
a
project
that
includes
age-restricted
housing,
specifically
227
units
of
which
48
are
affordable
to
low
and
very
low-income
seniors,
is
a
step
into
the
right
direction.
A
The
also
consider
the
fact
that
in
a
lot
of
our
city
aging
in
place
is
a
phenomenon,
that's
real,
and
so,
with
regard
to
being
able
to
open
up
the
inventory
of
housing
that
can
free
up
other
housing
for
families
and
bring
in
more
students.
This
is
a
critically
important
step
that
we
need
to
take.
The
city
took
all
of
this
into
consideration
by
the
guarantee
of
affordable
housing.
A
Throughout
the
entitlement
process,
the
city
worked
closely
with
the
applicant
to
ensure
that
this
project
was
successful
while
simultaneously
meeting
the
concerns
reflected
by
the
public.
The
city
conducted
a
thorough
environmental
impact
review,
adding
mitigation
measures
that
would
reduce
impacts
to
the
community
during
the
construction
process.
A
The
city
was
also
successful
in
working
with
a
developer
in
facilitating
a
pedestrian
and
bicycle
easement
on
the
western
edge
of
the
project
site.
This
is
an
important
connector
between
mary
avenue
and
stephens
creek
boulevard
on
the
staff
side.
This
was
overseen
by
the
community
development
department,
and
I
want
to
thank
director,
benfu
and
his
team
for
their
excellent
work.
A
A
couple
of
updates
on
our
processes
deserve
mention
here.
A
First,
I
want
to
mention
that
vice
mayor
chao
and
I
worked
very
well
with
staff
this
past
year.
I'm
making
sure
that
our
outreach
to
the
community
through
our
commissions,
is
done
well
and
with
an
optimized
procedure
which
now
aligns
commission
work
with
our
council
work
plan
and
allows
for
good
exchange
of
information
among
the
public,
the
commissions
and
staff.
A
Second,
our
public
processes
and
our
ability
to
deliver
and
adapt
to
the
very
different
conditions
affecting
meetings
have
also
changed
and
improved.
When
kirsten
squarsha
was
promoted
to
city
clerk
this
last
year,
she
helped
to
ensure
that
our
city
municipal
code
was
followed
and
updated
where
needed.
Our
minutes
are
in
good
order.
A
We
are
no
longer
following
half
century
old
procedures
and
we
have
adapted
to
modern
video
conferencing
conditions
seamlessly,
but
with
much
work
behind
the
scenes
kudos
to
the
city
clerk's
office
for
its
role
and
our
success
here,
and
I
also
want
to
thank
our
city's
video
staff
for
their
seamless
integration
of
videography
and
video
conferencing
into
our
city
meetings.
We
have
never
had
a
swearing-in
ceremony,
for
instance
by
by
video
conferencing,
and
it
really
went
quite
seamlessly.
So
thank
you
very
much
for
that.
A
I
also
want
to
thank
our
city's
communications
officer,
brian
babcock,
for
helping
to
ensure
that
our
community
is
interconnected
with
the
media
in
a
positive
manner.
Brian
manages
and
produces
the
scene
as
a
community.
It
is.
It
is
absolutely
true
that
we
are
quite
unique
and
quite
diverse
and
uniquely
diverse
brian's
job
in
reaching
out
to
the
rest
of
the
world
and
reflecting
our
perspective
and
contributions
is
one
that
is
ever
evolving
and
as
we
look
at
how
we
are
reflected
in
the
public
sphere,
I
see
a
lot
of
positive
trends.
A
Our
city
council,
working
together
with
our
staff
and
members
of
the
community,
represented
by
our
library,
commission,
the
cupertino
library
foundation
and
committed
volunteers,
has
managed
to
provide
us
a
jewel
box
of
a
space
for
a
much
treasured
resource.
I
want
to
thank
the
library
foundation
as
well
for
their
tireless
advocacy
on
behalf
of
this
project,
as
well
as
for
the
willingness
to
work
with
me
this
year
on
a
particular
environmentally
related
initiative
of
mine
as
mayor
to
help
us,
and
particularly
our
students,
think
about
what
we
do
with
plastic
waste.
A
I
was
very
happy
also
to
provide
the
county
library
system
a
proclamation
for
their
excellent
efforts
in
restoring
services
during
the
pandemic
in
a
safe
manner,
and
special
thanks
with
regard
to
the
library
expansion
program
goes
to
our
assistant
city
manager,
diane
thompson
for
her
excellent
work.
In
pulling
this
project
together,
our
residents
can
continue
to
enjoy
literature,
educational
opportunities,
art
and
music
with
something
to
look
forward
to
as
the
full
facilities
open
and
we
emerge
from
this
pandemic.
A
A
Commission,
the
amenity
space,
I'm
referencing
with
respect
to
equity,
is
on
our
eastern
border
on
a
parcel
of
land
that
borders
lawrence
expressway
after
even
more
years
than
I've
been
working
on
the
project
with
good
help
from
supervisor
joe
simidian
and
his
staff
on
the
county
board.
I
am
so
very
pleased
to
report
that
we
have
purchased
the
seven
acres
of
space
for
stewardship
into
parkland
related
activities
under
the
city
of
cupertino.
A
This
marks
a
wonderful
collaboration
and
an
example
of
how
great
opportunity
has
risen
from
long-standing
perseverance
and
well
done
to
heather
minor
of
shoot
mahali
the
premium
law
firm
that
currently
sits
in
the
position
of
our
city
attorney's
office.
This
was
time
well
spent
finalizing
this
contract
and
thank
you
all
our
residents
and
stakeholders
for
the
support
on
helping
make
the
entirety
of
our
community
more
accessible
to
both
outdoor
healthy
recreational
spaces
and
spaces.
A
Like
the
library
where
we
keep
envisioning
and
following
through
on
spaces
that
create
amenities
that
deliver
good
value
for
our
residents,
taxpayers
and
the
general
public,
I
know
that
one
of
the
major
topics
in
our
society
at
large
has
been
about
racial
equity,
and
I've
alluded
a
bit
to
it
earlier.
When
I
mentioned
looking
at
the
symbology
of
our
city
seal
our
city
logo,
the
morion,
let
me
share
some
final
brief
and
basic
thoughts
on
this.
A
I
hope
that
the
several
exemplars
of
today's
cupertino
that
I've
provided
here
have
helped
to
demonstrate
our
commitment
in
the
fashion
of
the
collective
whole
of
our
community.
That
is
so
much
more
than
the
sum
of
our
parts
to
honesty,
fairness,
attention
to
important
details,
pragmatism
and
the
resultant
and
thoroughly
ingrained
quality
that
emerges
from
this
very
multifaceted
effort
that
requires
and
inspires
and
is
inspired
by.
A
We
are
grateful
for
our
residents.
We
are
grateful
for
our
staff
and
stakeholders
and
we
see
the
opportunities
from
that
foundation
when
we
stay
consistent
with
principles
that
we
cherish
and
that
we
seek
to
preserve.
Thank
you
for
everything
that
you
do
and
thank
you
for
helping
make
the
city
of
cupertino
what
it
is
and
will
be.
I
am
grateful
to
you
and
I
wish
you
safety
and
good
health
as
we
continue
on
this
opportunity-filled
journey
together.